Shower Gifts

So I didn't mean to go radio silent on you guys, it's just that I have been hard at work on my crafty endevors and well...blogging sort of got left behind.  So sorry.  I'll make it up to you now by showing off not just one, but TWO finished projects.  I've been sewing and knitting up a storm over hear...I'm hoping it's the kind of storm that brings sunshine ;)

Last night I went to a baby shower and well of course I had to make something for the baby, it was for a dear friend who is expecting her second baby girl any day now.  So with my needles I whipped up this adorable sweater,

If you've been around blogland for any amount of time you've probably seen this pattern, it's the Puerperium Cardigan by Kelly Brooker.  I think I first saw it when Shannon made one and knew that the next baby that came (not my own) would get this.  Bonus it's a free pattern for the smallest size, though there is a pattern for larger sizes.

Vinny picked out the buttons and I do say he did a fabulous job.  The sweater is a top-down so there aren't any seams.  The most sewing you do is the buttons.  The mother proclaimed upon receipt of it that "Side buttons are my favorite."  I think it was a winner.

Of course no shower gift from me can be complete without baby shoes,

I just love these Little London Loafers.  This is the smallest size and they just use scraps, scraps I tell you of fabric.  One of the guests at the shower told me I should sell them, maybe I will one day.  

I didn't have any velcro squares so I opted for a snap...I was mildly disappointed in the pearl snaps that I used (not Dritz, so other off brand) as they cracked when I set them.  Still, you won't get cut on them but it did mar the beauty of the pearl top.  Note to self: Get more pretty snaps of quality.  Honestly I'm in love with snaps...so quick and easy and they add in my mind a professional look to them.

Of course for gifts it's all in the presentation so I whipped up a cute little box out of scrapbook paper, a few cotton balls in the toe of the shoes and I had this picture perfect gift to present.

Based off of all the other gifts received this baby will be one stylish girl!

So what have you been up too?  Any projects you're dying to show off?  I'd love to see anything you've made.  Next week is packed with projects to show off for you so no fears of me being silent forever!

A Goal to be Proud of

I confess, there is one goal I made for the year that I haven't shared with you yet.  That is the goal to give back from the talents and abilities that I have.  I'm really not sure what God has in store for me this year in this goal but I am super excited.  Especially since I've already had an opportunity to give back!

A friend of my posted on facebook that she was in need of some cotton skirts for her upcoming mission trip to Ghana (it's in Africa).  She was hoping that someone had some skirts her size to lend her.  I thought as I read her post that I didn't have skirts, but I did have cotton and I know how to sew.

After exchanging a few messages I started working and in short order had 4 skirts for her.  This was so much fun.  As I was cutting into my fabric in my stash I was reminded of how God had provided me the fabric.  Most of my stash I have acquired through gifts as the fabric I buy usually gets used for a specific purpose quickly.  For a while I had been struggling to use what was in my stash because once you cut into something it is gone, but this time I didn't even hesitate to cut into my fave fabrics.  I was giddy in expectation of what good will come from this.

I just want to encourage you to think about what you have and keep your eyes open to the world around you in need.  There are some fabulous opportunities to help using the talents you have and you don't even have to look farther than your street sometimes.  I know often I feel overwhelmed by the sheer vastness of charities and organizations that need help.  Yet I like to have that personal interaction with people, to know that I'm not just giving something to a big charity but to KNOW the person I'm giving to.


Note about the skirts:  I just made a simple A-line skirt with elastic waistband.  There are tutorials ALL over the web for how to do this.  I simply took the waist and hip measurement added 4 inches (2 for ease of garment, 2 for seam allowance) to each and then divided by 4 for a quarter of what the pattern should be and added 3 inches for hem and waistband.  I made a pattern to be cut on the fold of the fabric.  

Ribbon, Tags, and Dresses Oh My!

Well, Greta (my sewing machine) has been hard at work this week.  I've been whipping up a few pillowcase dresses.  Let me just say that I see lot's more in my future...they are so easy and fast!  After sewing 5 this week the time of completion is just under and hour!   Talk about instant gratification!

Let me show you a few pics...

 

So a few weeks ago a friend of mine was telling me about how she had purchased some fabric and a pattern to make dresses for her girls.  My friend is NOT a seamstress, actually she detests sewing, however after seeing a kids magazine offering pillowcase dresses for sale at $19 a piece she decided that she could make them for less.

 

Well, the fabric sat in the bag from the fabric shop.  Her girls pestering about when she was going to make them their 'pretty' dresses.  Yet she couldn't convince herself to sew them up, easy as they were going to be.  Enter in a discussion with me and my offer to make them for her.

 

You all know how I love to sew and how I love to help a friend out.  So this last Sunday she brought me everything she bought.  The fabric, the pattern, the ribbon, and thread...the whole bag plus the inspiring picture of what she wanted the dresses to look like.  She said I could have everything that was left over because she was never going to use it.

She may have even mentioned the possibility of a yarn bribery...though nothing was promised ;)

I took the fabric home, washed and dried it and traced out the pattern piece (yes singular, 1 pattern piece).  I thought I'd have to iron the fabrics but they appear to have a low polyester/man-made fiber content because they didn't wrinkle.   In about 2 1/2 hours (including the washing and drying time) I had 5 dresses cut out and a little dress for a dolly.

she was so excited about the new dress

I even started on a dress.  I didn't get it completely finished the Sunday night, but at nap time on Monday it was done and another dress started on.  All 5 dresses were finished by Wednesday night!  I still have to whip up the dolly dress but it is started, I have only a few seams to finish up.

I made a few tags for the dresses, I just love adding a personal touch to gifts I make.   I simply printed off the information on transfer paper and then ironed it onto some scrap fabric.  With pinking shears I finished up the edges to prevent fraying, then sewed the tags in the dresses.  I'm planning on packaging up the dresses all pretty like for the girls because we all know that the wrapping is just as important as the clothes!

What do you think of Made2Give?  Well it is a name I'm testing out for my soon to be shop...Yup, that's right I'm going to do it and open up an Etsy shop.  I'm still in the middle stages of planning but I promise to keep you updated as I get closer to opening up.  Husband and I just found out that we'll be getting a little extra $$$ soon and it is a possibility to use that as capital for the shop.  I am excited about the shop and some of the other details, but more on that later.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  Lincoln, Samuel, Elsa & I are taking a road trip tomorrow to meet up with my sister and mother so that Lincoln and Elsa can spend the weekend with them.  I'm very excited because on the way back home Samuel and I are going to try and find as many yarn shops as possible!  I promise to show you any souvenirs we might pick up along the way.

{{hugs}}
Buffy

So what are your plans for the weekend?  Anyone going camping?  What do you think of the pillowcase dress fad?  Any projects you want to share?  Just leave a Friendly Thought and let's chat!